Joseph Cook

Joseph Cook (7 December 1860-30 July 1947) was Prime Minister of Australia from 24 June 1913 to 17 September 1914, interrupting Andrew Fisher's two terms in office. He was originally a member of the Australian Labor Party, but he later joined the Free Trade Party and the Commonwealth Liberal Party.

Biography
Joseph Cook was born in Silverdale, Staffordshire, England on 7 December 1860. He became a coal miner in 1973, and he emigrated to New South Wales, Australia in 1887. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1891, where he became leader of the parliamentary Australian Labor Party in 1893. Against Labor's wishes, he accepted George Reid's offer to become Postmaster-General in 1894, and he became increasingly alienated from his Labor roots. A representative in federal parliament from 1901, he led the Free Trade Party from 1908, and in the 1913 elections led the Liberals to victory. His slender majority in the House of Representatives, and the hostility of the Senate precluded the enactment of any major legislation. He became deputy leader of the Nationalist Party of Australia in 1917, annd he was Australian high commissioner from 1921 to 1927. He died in Bellevue Hill, New South Wales, Australia in 1947 at the age of 86.